At every stage in life, physical health is tied to mental health. When we feel good physically, we’re more likely to feel good mentally, as well. And with dementia, depression, anxiety, and loneliness higher among people later in life, this is one more reason to get or stay physically fit. The World Health Organization has
Being obese means having a bigger body, of course. But research indicates it also means having a smaller brain – and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. “The more we understand about (body fat), the clearer it becomes that belly fat is its own disease-generating organism,” said Dr. Lenore Launer in a statement by
If you still think physical exercise is only good for the body, then check out this latest research that adds to the evidence about mental health. The Journal of American Medical Association’s Psychiatry journal just published an analysis of 15 studies involving 190,000 people to learn more about how exercise lowers depression. Here are some
When Pat Santilli moved to a new town in her 60s, she quickly visited the local animal shelter to volunteer. Pat always has been an animal lover, and she thought volunteering would be a good way to meet people and learn about the community. And she was right. She made new friends and found a
We all talk to ourselves about ourselves. What kind of things do you say? That you’re overweight, lazy, and too old to be fit? A lot of us struggle with an inner voice that repeats nonsense like that. But you don’t have to let it keep you from exercising, eating right, and managing stress so
This story is NOT about a famous actress writing her memoirs. It’s about how we all need to learn to love ourselves at this stage of life, even if it means letting go of some of the stubborn goals we’ve been clinging to for decades. No – ESPECIALLY if it means letting go of some
It’s good news any time someone dispels a myth about getting older. So we’re happy to share this report of a survey that found widespread happiness about life after 65. Half of those in the survey of 2,000 people aged 65 to 84 said they feel younger than 50. They also: Stopped caring what people
Exercise boosts creative thinking of all kinds. Want proof? Michael, a corporate attorney, solves his complicated work problems while swimming. Todd, who manages PR for a large communications firm, likes to have one-on-one meetings with his direct reports at the company gym. And Lyndsey, a photographer, cleared her head to open her own business
Gratitude is important every day, not just on Thanksgiving. It’s good for our physical, mental, spiritual and social health – and it even has a relationship to exercise. “Studies suggest that making a habit of noticing what’s going well in your life could have health benefits,” the US National Institutes of Health says. Age can
It’s understandable to get stressed these days. But it’s not a requirement! We can take steps to protect our mental health every day, just like we can exercise physically to improve our bodies every day. (And, yes, exercise is good for your brain, too!) So, in addition to regular workouts, here are our top five